Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway

After the partial opening of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway (just 11.5 km of 46.73 km) on the HSIA-Kutubkhali route via Mohakhali, the construction work of the country's second 24-km elevated expressway has run into a snag. The hurdles, linked to the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, are distinctively different. But they appear to be surfacing as a prelude to a litany of ground realities waiting in the wings. The second expressway is being constructed for alleviating the communication problems of people living in Dhaka and Ashulia by speeding up their commute between the two destinations. Given the slow progress in the expressway work, the project may overrun the deadline. Reportedly, only 9.5 per cent of work has been completed nearly a year after the launch of the construction.

The project officials have blamed a number of factors for the delayed start. They include delays in land acquisition, shifting various utility lines and removing a number of structures in the project area. In addition, the officials said they have yet to receive the construction yard from the Dhaka Elevated Expressway in the airport area. The Tk 175.53 billion project formally began on October 28 last year, nearly eight years after it was initiated --- with the primary deadline being 2027. Meanwhile, of the several challenges the Chinese contractors faced, one halted their progress right on the middle of the Ashulia Bridge after building piers on both sides due to the high-voltage power line of the national grid. Under the project, the contractors are supposed to build two bridges on both sides of the expressway and demolish the embankment road underneath stretching from Dheor crossing to Ashulia 2nd Bridge to ensure smooth navigation for water transports. All this is complicated job.

People who will use the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway are willing to bear with the sufferings caused by different types of temporary dislocations. What they look forward to is a smooth movement along the 24-km elevated passage. Moreover, as the Dhaka Elevated Expressway has yet to be fully completed, the new expressway project might go through series of disruptions. They might shadow the project until the unfinished tasks of the first elevated expressway are completed. It's depressing news for the expectant users of the Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway. Though these types of unexpectedly botched up work schedules are part of major projects, relevant authorities need to foresee those and take appropriate measures beforehand.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority took over the Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway project after signing a memorandum of understanding with China National Machinery Import and Export Company (CMC) on January 22, 2015. However, the project faced delays due to the prolonged time taken to sign a loan contract with the Chinese Exim Bank, which wasn't finalised until October 26, 2021. After the loan was effective in May, 2022, the project officially started on October 28 the same year. Meanwhile, dwelling on his experience of working in the area, a Chinese engineer spoke of the people's appeal to them to expedite the project's construction work, as they face a series of troubles in crossing the corridor, especially in Ashulia. With the completion of the second elevated expressway, the nation can find itself on course of the new millennium-road communication. Overhead expressways are expected to become high-priority development imperatives.